Hey, great post, really well written. You should write more about this. I’ll definitely be subscribing.
Endeavour of Spirit
“We are not physical beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a physical experience.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
In our minds we have all asked ourselves time and time again if there is someone or something up above. Even those with the strongest faith still have the question arise at times. I would like to open a discussion about this very issue.
Whether it is Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism or countless other religions, all have one thing in common. That is the belief in a higher power. The fact that someone or something is responsible for the creation of our very being. Many wars have been fought for the proclamation of who’s God was the real God.
This text is not meant to imply or even discuss that issue. Who am I, or anyone for that matter, to say my God is superior to your God. The point is that we have a God (or whatever you religion may call the superior being). We as humans need something to believe in. A place to turn in times of need and doubt.
I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ. I have read the bible and try my best to follow the 10 commandments. There are times I fail and I ask forgiveness in order to return to the flock if you will.
But once again, I am opening a discussion on how our beliefs affect our lives. Not whose is right or wrong. As stated in the opening quote by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. We are spiritual beings having a physical experience.
How have your beliefs affected your life? Where do you feel you would be without them?
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3 comments - add yours
LJ
June 18, 2009
I believe that there is no greater being that created everything. As there exists no proof other than the belief itself, that something greater created everything. There is no physical proof or logic that supports any religous belief other than faith and the belief itself. Most people are indoctrinated at birth to their beliefs or turn to something greater than themselves due to a catastrophy in their lives that they are unable to deal with or come to grips with. Ergo, the crutch. My goal is not to kick crutches out from beneath people because I also believe that most people are better off living in their fantasies than without. They do not have the strength to face life head on, alone, one on one which is what we are.
The dynamics of evolution, fear, ego, and environment created the need within man to create something greater to lean on. Any person who analysis religion in a historical view and how it has been used to control and manipulate the masses can clearly see that no existing religion has done anything positive for mankind. We have murdered more people in the name of religion than disease and famine. Which leads me to my belief and subject at hand to contemplate.
I believe that God is the greatest disease that mankind has ever inflicted upon itself. I believe that four factors determine most of our decision making processes, success, failure, happiness, and our journey in life. Genetics, environment, parental upbringing or lack thereof, and self awareness. Most of which we did not have the free will to choose. We hold within ourselves the ability of perception which is the reality that we live. We go where we put our minds and we only use a fraction of its capacity. Our challenge is to block out all of the influences of the lies and deceptions that we are constantly bombarded with and determine to the best of our ability our own true reality and path. You go where you put your mind.
The good news is that with each passing generation we increase our knowledge as well as our abilities to realize this. The bad news is that religion is such an emotionally driven reality that most people are unable to break the chains and see truth for what it is. Truth is that we are significant creatures for only a moment in time and we are only as significant as we believe ourselves to be in that moment. And as the great Bill Murrey said in the movie Stripes “It just doesn’t matter.” The universe will continue to expand, contract and repeat itself and it’s not because that is the way God has made it and intended it to be. It is because that is just the way it is. Some things will never change.
Bulldog 7 “OUT”
Gary
June 18, 2009
I understand and appreciate your point. But the fact remains that we all need something to believe in. The referral of ones belief in religion as a “crutch” is actually no different than the anger in which you posses to rail against it. Its just the other side of the coin.
Regardless of you religious beliefs or lack thereof, when you go to bed at night I truly believe that you hope tomorrow will be a better day. To quote Bill Murrey as a sort of profit predicting the future is laughable at best. It just happens man, is very quaint and precious, but I find it a bit hard to fathom.
The remark of people being killed in the name of religion is a very valid point. Tragic to say the least. Primarily due to the fact that people will not allow others beliefs to exist. Their will to force ones belief upon others is hardly the work of what religion stands for. It comes from greed and the quest for power. Those vices are a constant throughout history. This is a non debatable point.
Weather or not there is a God above us is an issue that will be contemplated for eternity. We will continue to have wars in the name of religion. People will die, lands will be destroyed, civilizations will perish. All done in the name of God…But not by the will of God.
When man gets involved everything goes awry. Greed and temptation fuel the fires. Look back at history. All atrocities can be attributed to greed. The idea of Communism is a great thing. In actuality it just does not work. Why…greed is why. The lust for power destroys the best of intentions.
So this conversation will continue until the end of time. Far greater minds than ours have contemplated this throughout history and have yet to come up with a definitive answer. I do believe it is a healthy discussion to say the least. The sad thing would be to see the passion of both sides disappear, then I will be very afraid.